Before the Rain Comes
In South Sudan, the “rainy season” begins in April and runs through November. During rainy season, the rain falls daily, often resulting in flooding of land, roads and homes.
From June to October, most South Sudanese people no longer use cars as a mode of transportation from Juba (Capital of South Sudan) to rural South Sudan. This is because the mostly roads become impassable by vehicle due to deep mud and water from flooding. The only paved roads in the country are in Juba. In fact, South Sudan only has 100 km of paved road leading from the Uganda border to Juba. The remaining roads (if any) are all dirt, making them susceptible to flooding washout and mud.
November to March is typically the dry season and the cycle of the rainy season returns in April. This is why many large supply shipments transported in and out of Maar take place during the dry season. Despite the rainy season challenges, alternative methods, such as taking a boat up the Nile River or a private aircraft, are possible but more dangerous and expensive.
The rainy season has a tremendous impact on South Sudan and the operations of SSHCO’s clinic in Maar. The rain and flooding hinder the ability to deliver health supplies and also impact the ability to provide healthcare to those living in that region.
Providing quality health services to the Maar clinic during the rainy season requires making sure all the medications and medical supplies are stocked up by the end of May.
If SSHCO is unable to stock up on medical supplies before the rainy season kicks in, there is a risk of not being able to provide healthcare services for up to seven months to the populations we support. As a result, this puts the health and wellness of the communities we serve at risk.
As we have shared in past communications, South Sudan has dangerously inadequate healthcare systems that especially lack sufficient medical supplies. This ranks South Sudan as having one of the worst health-outcome indicators in the world.
Now more than ever we need to press on with our efforts to bring health and hope to South Sudan.
With the help of generous donors like you, we can do just that!
What does your donation do for the people of Maar?
Your donation helps us purchase enough medications and medical supplies for treating patients at our clinic up to six months (May-November).
During the rainy season, malaria, and diarrhea-inducing illnesses are the most common diseases. Our immediate-need development fund helps buy much-needed malaria medication in bulk and the cost of transporting it from Juba to Maar before the roads become impassable.
For more information about the fund and to donate click here: LINK